Dean’s Message

Dear Members of the California Western Alumni Community:

The energy and enthusiasm on campus is palpable. We are fully open and have welcomed back all faculty, staff, and students for in-person learning. The Barrister’s Ball was a huge success in its return, while planning is underway for our 2022 Commencement in Balboa Park.

Meanwhile, I am enjoying every opportunity to connect with the California Western community and witness firsthand the school’s modernization.

As you will see throughout the pages of the alumni newsletter, looking forward as an institution partly entails building on our historic strengths. Our competitive advocacy team has once again proven itself amongst the best in the nation; our clinics are producing practice-ready lawyers; and our faculty is engaged in research advancing legal education and the legal system.

I hope you will enjoy, as much as I did, learning about the way in which these uniquely California Western experiences have animated the many alumni success stories in these pages. We are also deeply grateful to those alumni that have given back. One example is Jeff Lewin ‘75 and his wife Marie. Jeff has served for many years on our board of trustees, including as chairman. The Lewins recently donated $100,000 for a scholarship fund supporting first-generation college students. This gift encapsulates their extraordinary contributions to California Western. Read ahead to get access to a video conversation that Jeff and I recorded. In it, he speaks about his motivations behind his generosity, and how he envisions the funds transforming the lives of generations of students.

Jeff and Marie are a testament to what we can accomplish together.

Sean M. Scott President and Dean California Western School of Law